Monday, September 26, 2011

It's the start of the new week; the first in a new season. Kids are back to school and hopefully you are all settling into Autumn and adjusting to the changes that come with it.

Speaking of changes, I have made some changes in my life, and am about to embark on some new and exciting things that I'd like to share with you.

First of all, I have decided to devote more of my time to creating! My kids are all either in school or working full time, and after all my physical therapy, my hands and back are much better. I feel I am finally able to get back to spending more time in my studio once again!

So, I've decided to try a few new things. I'll be telling you more about them in the coming weeks.

But first, I have an announcement to make that I am really very excited about: I have been given the honor (and great compliment) to have been chosen to be on the Executive Design Team for "The Perfect Sentiment"! This new challenge blog will be something I'm sure many of you will want to acquaint yourselves with. It has been put together by some very talented people, and the plans they have to share with you will undoubtedly be filled with fun and inspiration.

Each week, there will be a new card making challenge... with a twist! This is not just any ordinary challenge blog, and I think you'll soon find out just how fun making challenge cards can be!

The Perfect Sentiment challenge blog will go live on October 5th, but all of us on the design team are already busy getting ready, and creating what I am sure you'll find to be very fun and inspiring.

Please click on the Perfect Sentiments badge (on the right hand side under my blog's badge) and it will take you to the site. Remember, October 5th is the day we'll be up and running. I hope you'll join us for some wonderful card making challenges!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Hello my faithful blog readers! And hopefully this is being read by some new readers, as well!

In an effort to thank you all for visiting, I have decided it's time to give out some more blog candy!

As most of you likely know by now, I LOVE Sizzix products! Well, I am getting to love Spellbinders more and more too. So, I'll be giving away dies from both companies, along with some specially sized papers from Sizzix.

And here are the papers. There are 3 paper pads each with 80 sheets of 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" papers in solids and prints. There are pastels, earth tones and rainbow colors.

And here's the best part- well, maybe not the BEST part, as the best is the prize, lol. But anyway, it's super easy to enter this giveaway. All you have to do is become a follower of my blog, and leave a comment telling me you are a new follower. And, if you already are a follower, then just comment telling me so. Want multiple entries? Every day you leave a comment you will get another entry (one per day) until the drawing. But you can start now, and if you come back and comment every day, you can get up to 5 entries total. You have until 11:59 pm (pst) on Tuesday Sept. 27th, and I will announce the randomly picked winner on Wednesday Sept. 28th.

My only requirement for entry is that you have a mailing address within the United States or Canada, as the cost of postage outside of these Countries is just way too costly. I hope you understand ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and GOOD LUCK!

And now, to share a card I made:

I love this stamp. It is made by Stampendous and if I recall correctly I believe I found it on eBay. In any event, it's among my favorite sentiment stamps.

I used the Sizzix/ Stampin' Up! Vintage Wallpaper impressions die on SU! Marina Mist card stock, and then sponged Early Espresso ink over it. I also distressed the edges and sponged more ink on it. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip satin, and I added some Silver Bells Robins Nest dew drops in the corner. The base of the card and the layer behind the sentiment is Early Espresso card stock.

In the corner is a Sizzix die cut cross made with SU! Brushed Silver card stock.

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you'll leave a comment, become a follower (if you aren't already) and enter my drawing!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Just thought I'd share with you a few little mini gift cards I made. I am so often in need of a teeny card to slip into a package and find this 3x3 size to be perfect.

I love the color of SU!'s Pink Pirouette card stock, so I decided to make these using the textured paper as my base.

Little to no stamping was required. Just big flowers and ribbons, and on one of them a little piece of patterned paper left over from another project.

There are so many beautiful pre-made flowers you can buy (such as the one above), or you can just make your own! My stamped flowers here were made using Stampin' Up!'s Triple Treat Flower stamp from their 2011/2012 idea book & catalog (below).

Thanks for stopping by to see my quick little gift enclosure cards. I'll have some more little cards to show you soon, as I seem to be on a mini card kick lately ;-)

Sarah Bennett

Paper crafting has become my way to share the creativity inside my soul. It is my creative outlet, my diversion, and my escape from everyday craziness. After spending years as a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I learned how to share my love of crafting with others and encourage them to find their own creative outlets. Now, instead of working for a specific company, I am focusing my time on my own creations and designing my own art. I hope to inspire others with my work and am excited to see where this takes me!

I am a stay at home Mom who is married to the most wonderful husband I could ever imagine! We have 4 amazing children, a terrific son-in-law, and two very special (and spoiled) dogs. View my complete profile here.